Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-02-08


The following Is an abstract Of the sub
jet discussed at the prayer-meetina in
the Presbyterian Church last night, in
which the pastor said
: This love differs from mere benevolcnce.
This is wishing well 10 our fellow men.
II differs, also. from philanthropy y. This
is love OF mankind in general. This
love of Christ like friendship, is personal.
The Apostle says, who loved me and
gave himself for me" This, too, has been
the experience of christians everywhere.
This is shown in the hymns they have
been singing for many years, as Jesus
lover ofmy soul, Jesus loves even me, -
etc. 1t would be interesting to- go through
any of our hymn-books 10 see how this
love of Christ for us individually il pre-
sentcd. If we kept this in mind more
than we do in reading the Bible and in
singing the hymns, our delight in religion
would be greater and sweeter.
1t is love, too, that cannot be under-
stood. With all the intelligence of the
angels, this love of Christ to us is a mys-
terry. They are represented as desiring
Ito look into" these things 1t was love
TO the unlovely, to the vile, to the often
sive, to enemies, that was shown. while
we we're yet sinners, Christ died for us. :"
The mother loves her child regardless of
its character. This love of Christ is some
thing like the love of the mother The
child may be an object of adherence to
others, but the mother loves him still. So
Christ loved US, although we had gone
down into the deepest degradation.
Then, too, 1t is a love that is infinite.
1t is the love that is exercised by an inf
mite being. Christ has all the attributes
of God He thought it not robbery to
be equal with God" The sacrifice he
offers is able TO save unto the uttermost
all that come unto God by it. And it Sc
cures infinite blessings. Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered
into the heart of man, the things which
God hath prepared for them that love
him."
Christ's love is constant. Our love is
wavering, tickle, inconstant Christ is
1.-The same yesterdays to day and forever :"
The Apostle says For am pursuaded,
that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any 9th er creature, shall
be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. !"
Such love leads us 10 to ao0nder why 1t
was bestowed upon us. The christian
never gets over the wonder, and the more
he studies the word of God and his rela-
stionship to God, the gre alter is his won
der
1t also produces humility We see this
conspicuously in one character of Paul.
He said of himself II am the least of
the apostles, that am not meet to be called
an apostle. Unto me, who am less than
the least of all saints, is this grace given"
Then be constantly taught that the love
of Christ instead of making men proud
and high-minded, made them meek, gen.
tie, humble. James says "God resisteth
the proud, but giveth grace unto the
humble"
1t awakens lore. 1--WE love him, be-
cause he first loved u.s.
Unto you Therefore which believe
says Peter, The is precious" 1t also
brings great joy. The apostle speaks of
rejoicing with joy unspcakable = that
is, 1t could not be expressed in words.
Then this love of Christ supports under
all trials, and brings heaven down to earth.
/ can meet the greatest difficulties and
sorrows, when know that this great ,Sa-
viour loves me. The consciousness of
that brings heaven down to earth, and we
have a foretaste of the joy of the heaven
ly world.
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